June 04, 2016

Standing before a crowd of thousands at the Reason Rally in Washington, DC, Robyn Blumner, the head of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science and the Center for Inquiry said that atheists have allowed politicians to ignore them, and must now insist on a place at the table.

“There are millions and millions and millions of atheists in America,” said Blumner. “But we are invisible. We have no political power. We can be dismissed by politicians with utter impunity. We can be insulted and we can be ignored and there is no political cost for it.

“And why is that? Because we are too quiet.”

Blumner cited glaring examples of anti-atheist and theocratic sentiment from major political figures, such as Ted Cruz’s assertion that anyone who doesn’t start the day on their knees in prayer “isn’t fit to be commander-in-chief,” and Marco Rubio’s assertions that when civil law and God’s law come into conflict, “God’s rules always win.” In such an atmosphere, Blumner said that it is now incumbent upon secular Americans to “make some noise.”

Blumner recently became CEO of the Center for Inquiry, which is in the process of merging with the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science, which she also leads, combining into what will become perhaps the largest freethought organization in the United States. The two organizations share a mission to foster a secular society based on reason, science, and humanist values. CFI is maintaining a live blog of the Reason Rally at http://centerforinquiry.live.

“In my book there are no ghosts, golems, angels or spirits,” said Blumner, expanding her message beyond a lack of belief in religion. “I do not believe in psychic power, astrology or predestination - and forget about karma, kismet or crystals. My view is that the ‘soul’ does not exist outside a functioning brain, nothing was ‘meant to be,’ and things that seem inexplicable are not miracles or paranormal experiences, they are simply not yet explained.”

“My faith is in mankind and the marvels accomplished by human ingenuity and drive.”

Blumner also spoke of the Dawkins Foundations’ work to give teachers the tools they need to introduce evolution to students at an early age.

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The Center for Inquiry (CFI) is a nonprofit educational, advocacy, and research organization headquartered in Amherst, New York, with executive offices in Washington, D.C. It is also home to both the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, the Council for Secular Humanism, and will soon be home to the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science. The mission of CFI is to foster a secular society based on science, reason, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values. Visit CFI on the web at www.centerforinquiry.net.